I received an email from a girl I’ll call, “Lorie”. She is a college student now and living on the mainland. She was thinking about going to live in Hawaii for college. She realizes it will be tough – but thought she would tough it out.

Can a college student from the mainland USA go to Hawaii for college?

Here’s my email response to her below…

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Hi Lorie,

Ha! Right, what family WOULD be supportive of their little girl moving 3000 miles away in the middle of the Pacific Ocean to live on an island? Not me… lol.

As a college student in Hawaii you’ll need to live on very little cash. Can you eat ramen noodles a lot? The big problem in Hawaii – going to college, is that you’ll pay out of state tuition… and that things in Waikiki are very expensive. Simple things like food & drink.

In 2017 you can find a room in Hawaii craigslist for about $900Â if you want to share someone’s house. This will be about as small as a dorm room. One time I found a room under the stairs of someone’s house for rent! No kidding. It was the weirdest setup for a living space that I’d ever seen – and they wanted $500 for it! It was actually near University of Hawaii Manoa. Great location just 1/2 block from the campus, but, come on! Who wants to live in Hawaii under a stairway? I’d almost rather live under an Oahu expressway bridge – you know?

If you move to Oahu – you should get a job… babysitting, whatever you can. The extra money really helps. It might not even be extra – but, needed! Hawaii state employment office is a BIG help for jobs. Their jobs are not in the newspaper or most places online. It is easy (fast) to get jobs through them too. I found a job paying 60K in 3 days after going there. “Marketing Manager” for a large resort on Maui.

I’m excited for you to make this work. I wish I would have stayed on Oahu after leaving the Air Force. There was no reason to leave, but we chased a dream for my then wife.

Hawaii is super expensive… the people are very cool at the college level. I think you will love the atmosphere… If you can pull this off – it will be the best thing you’ve ever done… and you’ll remember it forever. VERY few people have the guts to try to move from the mainland to Hawaii – and as a college student that doesn’t know people there – and hasn’t been there?? Very few.

You’ll find it safe as a college student… and, unless you’re into drugs, or getting smashed on alcohol, you’ll probably be fine. I have so many articles on moving to and living in Hawaii – you should read them all, I think you’ll have a much better mental image of what living in the Hawaiian islands is like.

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Iâ€™ve lived Hawaii since the mid â€˜80s when I moved here at the age of 21. I arrived site-unseen in Honolulu with zero contacts and about $5k in savings. I worked from nearly zero and today Hawaii has given me the greatest gifts in the world in all aspects: spiritually, financially, romantically (married since early â€˜90s w/ 2 children), and most important, peace. My goal with this site is to share the magic of this Land of Aloha and help others who are on a similar quest.

One Comment

Myself Anurag, today is the first day where i got in touch with hawaii from nowhere incidentdly through my phone while browsing on internet.
I have gone through all the details of this city through different site and info provider , the reason for this is I m starting to love this country and want myself to see there as soon as possible.
I will complete my bachlor’s degree in management studies in marketing in 3 months including results out date .
My question is I am from India and want my self to work and start living in hawaii please suggest me the detail process and work permitt and living information via mail or simply reply ! Thnx for the supportakmumbaianurag@gmail.com is my mail address.